Electric switch



J. Pf WATSON ELECTRIC SWITCH Mayzz, i956 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 18, 1952 (l lll.

la lllllllllll llllll I I) J. P. WATSON ELECTRIC SWITCH May z2, 1956 3 Sheets-Shea t 2 Filed Dec. 18, 1952 m/enfor mes .7? Waoq His Hlfor/ygg.

May 22, 195s J. P. wATsoN 7 ELECTRIC swnfcH 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed Dec. 18, 1952 JNVENTOR.

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Homey United States Patent() ELECTRIC SWITCH James P. Watson, Lynwood, Calif.

Application December 18, 1952, Serial No. 326,737

, 16 Claims. (Cl. 200-5'147) My invention relates to an electric switch and more particularly to `a ratcheting clutch mechanism and to a switch having an operating mechanism comprising a ratchetng clutch. My invention further contemplates the provision of a unitary lamp socket and switch assembly having an external tiltable switch operating member.

My invention also relates specifically to a switch assembly wherein a switch mechanism is housed in a cylindrical ICC l of my invention;

Fig. 9 is a 'detail perspective view of a small portion of a manually engageable operating element structure for the switch in accord with a modified embodiment of my casing for operation by a ring encircling the casing in a readily to be found position. Y

A general object of my invention is to provide a unitary lamp socket and switch assembly having an improved switch actuating arrangement.

Another general object of my invention is to provide an improved electric switch. A more specific object of my invention is to provide a switch operable in response to restricted rotation of a shaft in either direction to change the switch connections, and, further, to adapt a switch so operable for use in a unitary switch and lamp socket assembly. e

It is also an object of my invention to simplify and, at the same time, to make more reliable and more easily operable, lamp socket.type switches.

In accord with my invention, the above objects, and additional objects which will hereinafter appear, are accomplished by the provision of a clutch or ratcheting arrangement coupling an operating shaft to a rotatable cam in a switch structure in which the rotatable cam operates a movable contact member and in which an external manually operable member is employed which is adapted to attractive design and which is more readily operated, and more easily found by the person wishing to operate the switch, than heretofore suggested operating members. 1

The novel features which l believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following specific description of my invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a unitary lamp socket and switch assembly in accord with my invention as arranged in use;

Fig. 2 is a partially sectionalized front elevation of a switch and socket assembly in accord with my invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional'view of a portion of the assembly i taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the switch as shown in Fig. 3 demonstrating a different operative position;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of the assembly taken along line 5 5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional vie'w similar to that of Fig. 5, but 'from which certain parts have been omitted for clarity, showing the switch elements in different operating position;

invention;

\` Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the device taken along line 10-10 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 11 is a view similar to that of Fig. 10 showing portions of the switch operating mechanism at a different point in the operating cycle.

In external aspect, the switch and lamp socket assembly according to the preferred embodiment of my invention is shown, in Fig. 1, to comprise a generally cylindrical outer casing or shell 1, which may be of brass, or the like, having an internal threaded socket to receive a standard incandescent lamp 2. An operating member for the switch, in the form of shaft or rod 3, extends transversely through shell l, and a ring 4 surrounds shell I and is attached to the encompassed ends of shaft 3 to be an integral part of the manually operable operating member. One end of shell 1 is closed by a cap 5, and the cap is adapted to be supported, for example, by a pipe or tube 6 serving as a standard.

The method 'of'operating the switch in accord with my invention, in order to control the connection between lamp cord conductors housed in tube 6 and entering shell l, and the terminals of lamp 2, is through restricted rotation of shaft 3 resulting from manual, or the like, tilting of the ring 4about the axis of shaft 3. The portion 7 of ring 4, for example, may be either raised or lowered to tilt the ring through an angle of approximately 50 degrees, which results in a rotation of shaft 3 about its axis through an equal angle. Since it is necessary in order to operate the switch in accord with the preferred embodiment to tilt ring 4 about the axis of shaft 3, protrusions 8 are formed as a part of the ring adjacent the ends of the shaft. lf the hand of the person operating the switch strikes one or the other of these protrusions,

the person is thereby signalled to move the hand along the ring, such as toward portion 7, before applying the operative tilting motion to the ring. It will be recognized that ring 4, in essence, comprises a manually engageable operating element extending from one end of shaft 3 to the other externally of shell l, and that this element has a hollow or deeply recessed portion toward shell 1 to permit the element to be rotated through at least about 50 degrees before the'portion 7 meets shell 1 or standard 6.

The ends of shaft 3 engage in small sockets or recesses formed in the inner surface of ring 4, and the shaft ends are preferably held in place by means of clips 9. The construction is more readily seen from Fig, 2 wherein a at side portion 10 of shaft 3 is fitted within a recess in ring 4 to be held in place by clip 9. The lower end portion'll of clip 9 is retained between the extreme end of the shaft and the side of the recess and the extreme upper portion 12 of clip 9 engages in restricted indentation 13.n the inner surface of manual signalling or hand guiding protrusion 8. Clip 9 comprises a spring portion between its ends to urge upper end 12 into engagement in indentation 13. The shaft so attached to the operating ring will tilt or oscillate with the ring, to operate the switch, and will remain attached unless and until upper end l2 of clip 9 is intentionally pried out of indentation 13, thereby to permit clip 9 and the shaft to move upy amigos? 3 wardly with respect to ring 4 and out of the shaft receiving recesses.

As seen in Fig. 2, shaft 3 extends completely through the socket and switch assembly, and it is arranged to rotate in bearings formed in insulating base or body member 14. Base 14 defines an internal chamber which houses most of the switch and switch operating members. A movable contact member 15 is disposed within the body chamber for operation in response to rotation of a cam block 16 andthe block 16, of insulating material, is formed as a unitary portion of a member which comprises a clutch drum or ratchet wheel 17, shaped in the form of a hollow cylinder or drum. Within the drum are a pair of identical arms or pawls, of which one pawl 18 is seen, partially broken away, in full lines and portions of the other pawl 19 are indicated in part by full lines and in part by broken lines in-Fig.` 2. Pawls 18 and 19 areindividually hingedly carried by a pin extending through posts attached to shaft 3, such as post 20, whereby the pawls 18 and 19 may swing independently of one another. Also attached to shaft 3 is an upwardly extending lug or stop member 21 engaged by an end portion 22 of a helical centering spring 23. The spring'23 is held in place on a stud 24 mounted, as b y riveting, to a support or mounting member 25. The shaft 3 is held within its bearings, at opposite sides of the main chamber, by bearing blocks y 26 and 27, and an insulating cover, `in the form of a perforated disc 28, is provided to retain certain portions of the switch mechanism, including support 25 and bearing blocks 26, 27, in position in'the insulating body 14'. A central lamp contact member 29 extends through a slot .in cover member 28 and provides a connection from the central terminal 'of a lamp, such as lamp 2 shown in Fig. l, through the switch, when the switch is in closed position, to one of the terminals to which the lamp oord is connected. As will be later explained, the other terminal for the other wire of the lamp cord is directly connected to the internally threaded lamp socket cup or shell member 30, which receives and makes contact with the threaded cylindrical mounting terminal of a standard lamp in the conventional manner. It will be understoodthat the term lamp cord is here used to designate any pair of incoming conductors with which it may be desired to use the switch of this invention, the illustrated Aembodiment having been designed approreliability of operation are desired.

As further seen in Fig. 2, an insulating sleeve 31 extends generally along the whole inner surface of casing 1, and meets an insulating member 32 of shallow cup shape disposed against the inner surface of cap 5, and cap 5 lits over the lower end portion of casing'shell 1. The

extending neck portion 33 of cap 5 may be internally threaded to receive the end of hollow standard 6 through which the incoming lamp cord wires may normally be arranged in a home lighting fixture.

The shaft centering and ratcheting mechanism will be further understood by reference to the sectional view of Fig. 3. As there shown, stop 21 extends vertically upward Afrom the center ofI shaft 3 between end portion 22- of helical spring 23 and end portion 34 of helical spring 35. The springs surround posts mounted to support 25 land establish a rest or neutral position for shaft 3 corresponding to the horizontal position of the operating ring 4, which is the position shown in Fig. l. VSpring support 25 includes a horizontal lower portion 25 slotted at its sideiedgesfas indicated in Fig. 2, and this portion 25' functions as a restraining member for are originally strongly tensioned against portion 25', displacement of the shaft in either direction results in a.

restoring force effective to return the shaft to neutral y when the external displacing force is removed, and the restoring force of the effective spring is not opposed by the other-spring. For clockwise displacements of the shaft, it will be apparent that spring 23 becomes the active lrestoring spring and that spring 351is rendered ineective by the portion 25'.

The rest position for the shaft corresponds to a condition in which the switch will be either fully closed or fully open. A Movement of the switch into its other condition, that is, from open to closed, or from closed to open, is accomplished by rotation of shaft 3vabout its axis, in either clockwise or counterclockwise direction, through an angle of about 50degrees. Such shaft rotation is effective to rotate the cam member 16 hereinabove mentioned and hereinafter more particularly described, to movel the movable switch contact members. As mentioned above, the contact operating cam is connected to a ratcheting wheel 17 and the ratcheting wheel,

in turn, is rotatable vwith shaft 3 through the operation" from neutral position, regardless of the rapidity withv which the displacing rotation of the shaft is started, causes the shaft to carry the ratchet wheel rotatively with it. As rotation starts in either direction, an appropriate one of pawls 18 and 19 is hingedly depressed toward shaft.3 to remove the end of the depressed pawl from the notches and shoulders of the inner surface of the ratchet wheel. 'The depression of one ofthe pawls is accomplished by the engagement of the pawl with a semicircular cam surface 40 formed to extend intothe main chamber of body member 14. As further explained in connection with Fig. 4, clockwise displacement of the shaft will result in depression of pawl 18 while pawl 19 drives the ratchet wheel by contact behind shoulder 39, whereas counterclockwise displacement causes depression of pawl 19 while pawl 18 drives the ratchet wheel.

A helical spring 41 surrounds hinge pin 42 and has ends urging pawl members 18 and l19.to swing outwardly in a direction away from shaft 3. Thedepressing of a pawl by cam surface 40 is, accordingly, always against the force of spring 41 on the depressed pawl.

Rotationof shaft 3 in each direction is limited by engagement of stop 21 with one or another'shoulder 36,

36' formed vertically in the walls of the main chamber in body 14. The shoulder 36 is seen in Fig. 2 to be positioned for engagement by the right hand end of stop 2l. The locationsof shoulders 36 and 36', as sh'own in Figs. 3 and 4, are seen to be such that stop 2l will engage one of the shoulders, in accord with the selected direction of rotation of the shaft, upon rotative displacement of shaft 3 through about 50 degrees from its neutral position. The

drawings, but, for brevity, such description may not be -moved by the next switching operation.

repeated for each figure in which that elementappears. To assist in a comparison of the figures, however, the elements are in many instances identified in each of several figures by corresponding reference numerals.

Returning to the disclosure of Fig. 3, the lamp cord wire for connection through the switch to the center lamp terminal 29, seen in Fig. 2, is attached under a suitable connecting bolt to an end of stationary contact member 43, while the incoming conductor for attachment to the threaded cup terminal 30 of the lamp socket is connected under a suitable connecting bolt to stationary connecting member 44. The upper end of member 44 is threaded to receive the shank of an elongated bolt 45, and it will be seen that a circuit is established through bolt 45 from conductive cup member 30 to the connection member 44. Bolt 45 further serves to retain cup 30 and insulating cover 28 on body member 14, and an additional bolt 46 also extends through the bottom portion 47 of cup member 30 to thread directly into an aperture in body. 14 and to retain cup 30 and cover 28 in position on body 14.

The operation of the ratcheting mechanism will be further understood from an examination of Fig. 4, wherein the shaft 3 has been rotatively' displaced in a counterclockwise direction through an angle of about 45 degrees from the position of Fig. 3. This rotation has almost brought 'stop 21 into engagement with rotationlimiting shoulder 36. Pawl 18 is seen to be in Vdriving position behind shoulder 37 on the internal surface of ratchet wheel 17, while pawl 19 has been disabled by engagement with cam surface 40.

As the rotation from the position of Pig. 3 toward the position of Fig. 4 started, pawl 18 will have separated from the shoulder 48 at one upper end of cam surface 40, while the portion of cam surface 40 which lies immediately below cam shoulder 49 at the other end of the cam surface will have depressed pawl 19 inwardly toward shaft 3. Stop 21 of shaft 3 has forced end 34 of spring 35 outwardly, and end 34 is exerting a centering or returning force on stop 21. If the operating ring 4, which has been used to rotate shaft 3 against the force of spring 35, is now released, spring 35 will rotate shaft 3 clock-- wise, through about 45 degrees, into its centered rest position, in accord with the position indicated in- Fig. 3. During such return, pawl 19 will remain in its depressed position out of engagement with any portion of the inner surface of ratchet wheel 17, and pawl 19, accordingly, has no effect on the ratchet wheel. Pawl 18, during the return motion, will ratchet freely along the inner surface of ratchet wheel 17, while an impedng or restraining co-action between the resilient movable switch contacts secures the cam block and ratchet wheel until forceably The securing effect of the resilient contacts againstthe cam block will be apparent from the description given below in connection with Figs. and 6.

The action of the cam surface in connection with the pawls may be further understood from a consideration of Figs, and 11, which are views taken along line 10-10 of Fig. 1 looking into the open end of clutch drum 17, in a direction opposite to the direction of the the members will reach the positions of Fig. 11. As the shaft starts to turn from the rest position, pawl 19 is depressed Ainwardly toward shaft 3 by cam surface 40, whereby the outer end of pawl 19 is held out of contact with any' part of drum 17 and can no longer engage any inner tooth or shoulder 37 of the 'ratchet drum. The

depressed position of pawl' 19 is shown in Fig. 1l. Mean'4 while, the outer end of pawl 18 will remain in. its notch 38, will engage the under side of a shoulder 37 and, as the shaft turns, will rotate the drum 17 clockwise through degrees into the position of Fig. 11. It will be understood that some clearance space may be provided in the notches 38 for the ends of the pawl, and that for full 45 degree rotation to be imparted to drum 17 by the driving pawl, the shaft may have to be rotated through from about 46 to 50 degrees, depending upon the amount of clearance space provided.

After the switch has been. operated into the Fig.v ll

position, the manual force which has rotated shaft 3' into the rotatively displaced position will be released. Centering spring 35 now becomes effective against stop member or lug 21 to cause 46 to 50 degrees counterclockwise return rotation of shaft 3. During the automatic return rotation into the rest or centered position ofl Fig. 10, however, the pawls are not effective to drive drum 17, and the drum, accordingly, remains in the rotative position into which it has been driven. Pawl 18 is ineffective to rotate the drum 17 during the counterclockwise return motion ofthe shaft because pawl 18 merely swings slightly inwardly and rides out of notch 38 and down over shoulder 37', identified in Fig. 11, until the end drops into the notch which is now located immediately behind cam shoulder 48. During such return rotation, pawl 19 is held depressed toward shaft 3 by cam surface 40, and the outer end of pawl 19 rides upwardly along cam surface 40 out of contact with thedrum, lpasses over chamfered cam shoulder 49 and finallyl lodges in that one of the notches of the drum which at that time is located in the position shown as immediately behind shoulder 49. When spring 35 has completed the return of the shaft to its rest position, it will be seen that views of Figs. 3 and 4. As seen in Fig. l0, with shaft 3 in centered position, the pawls 18 and 19 rest on shoulders 48 and 49, respectively, at opposite ends of cam surface 40, the ends of the pawls extending into respective notches 38 of the ratchet wheel or clutch drum 17. The pawls 18 and 19, .as heretofore explained, are pivotally I l carried on a hinge pin aixed to shaft 3 through support posts 20, and stop member or lug 21 is rigidly axed to the shaft 3 to extend upwardly therefrom between the centering spring end portions 22 and 34.

To operate the switch, it is necessary to rotate ratchet wheel 17 through 45 degrees, and this is accomplished by rotating shaft 3 rotatively to drive the drum 17. If the shaft 3 is rotated in a clockwise direction from its rest position of Fig. 10 through substantially 45 degrees,

tion will further cause contact between upper end portion 52 of movable contact member 50 with stationary contact. portion 54 which is formed as a part of the conductive all of the parts are prepared for the next switch operation and that the pawls will be as shown in Fig. 10.

The switch may be operated by shaft rotation in either direction fromI its Fig. l0 position. Thuscounterclockwise shaft rotation will cause pawl 19 to drive the drum 17 by engagement 'under ratchet tooth or shoulder 39, while depression of pawl 18 toward shaft 3 and away from the inner drum surface is effected by the action of cam surface 40. Upon the ensuing return rotation of the shaft, pawl 19 will ride across a drum shoulder and drop into a new notch, while the outer end of pawl 18 will ride along cam surface 40 and over cam shoulder 48 to drop into a new notch.

While the mere weight of pawls 18 and 20 may be suflcient to permit operation as described, spring 41 is preferably provided to ur'ge the pawls to pivot outwardly and thus to overcome such frictional resistance of the pawls on the hinge pin as may exist.

The sectional views of Figs. 5 and 6 demonstrate the relation of the moving contacts and the actuating cam which cooperates therewith. The shape of cam block 16 is generally square, and in the open circuit switch condition the cam presents opposite faces toward generally at sides of movable switch contacts 15 and 50. Any rotation of cam 16 about the axis of shaft 3 will, of course, cause separation of the upper ends 51 and 52 lof contact members 15 and 50, respectively. Such separal tion of the upper ends from one another will cause engagement between the curved upper end 5l of member 15 and a stationary contactportion 53 formed as a part of the terminal member 43 shown in Fig. 3. The separa- 50 are preferably formed of resilient conductive material, such as bronze, and may comprise a single strip pre-formed into the generally U-shaped configuration seen in Fig. S. The base of the U. is atixed at the bottom of the chamber in block or base 14 by means of a clip member 55, to which the movable contact members are axed by a rolled over central portion 56 of the clip.

As seenjn Figs. and 6, as well as in Fig. 2, a small collar 57 may be formed as a projection from the end wall of cam16, serving to prevent misplacement of the and 50 is such that as cam 16 is rotated into the Fig. 6 position, the members and 50 are slightly bowed and 'bow a little more just before the corners of the cam 16 ,seat in the indentations or depressions-63 and 64, and a little less as the corners seat in the notches. The result .is that contacting portions 51 and 52 slide or wipe against stationary contact portions 53 and 54, respectively, as the switch closes. It will be understood that such sliding or wiping contact is `conduciveto a low resistance electrical connection.

With reference to the sub-'assembly of :the clip and movable contact members shown in Fig. 7, it will be seen cam within the chamber in insulating body 14 and to 'reduce friction between the end wall of the cam and the back wall of the insulating body. As hereinabove described, cam 16, in the illustrated preferred embodiment,-

is formed unitarily with ratchet wheel 17, the solid back end wall of wheel 17 being seen in Fig. 5.

As further seen in Fig. 5, apertures 58 and 59 are i formed -through the bottom wall of body 14, the upper ends of these apertures opening into the main chamber of the body. End leg portions, such as leg portion 60, of clip member 55 spring into the upper ends of these apertures to engage against inclined shoulders, such as shoulders 61, formed at the upper ends of the apertures. The assembly comprising movable contact members 15 and 50 and clip 55 are, in assemblying the devicefintroduced in the upper end of the chamberin body 14, the cover 28 being not yet in place, and the end portions'6ll and 62 of clip 55 bend inwardly to permit this insertion. As the clip and movable contact member assemblyreaches the position shown in Fig. 5, with clip 55 resting against the bottom wall of the chamber, end portions 60 and 62 spring outwardly to enter the upper portions of apertures 58 and 59. Thereafter, the assembly may be removed by the insertion of a tool upwardly into apertures 58 and 59, the tool being used t`o bend ends 60 and '62 inwardly until the clip 55 is free to move upwardly in the chamber.

The inclined upper end walls .61 of the apertures compensate for slight discrepancies in the lengths of legs 60 and 62 and increase the rigidity of -the mounting of clip 55 to body 14.

Fig. 6 discloses the switch in closed position with the upper end portions 51 and 52 of resilient movable con-V tact members 15 and 50, respectively, in engagement with stationary contact portions 53 and 54. Operating cam 16 has been rotated 4S degrees from its position of Fig. 5 and now presents slightly rounded or chamfered opposite comers to the confronting faces of members 15 and 50, and the corners are engaged in indentations 63 and 64 formed in the members 15 and 50. It will be apparent that the resilient nature of contacts 15 and 50 is such as to provide an impeding detent action tending to impede cam 16 in the rotated position of Fig. 6, and it will now be apparent that successive rotations of cam member 16 'through angles of 4S degrees in either direction from the position of Fig. 6 into the position of Fig.- 5, or from the position of Fig. 5 into the position of Fig. 6, will serve to position cam 16 in respect to contacts l5 and SQ'in a cooperative relation thereto such that a substantial moving force is required to move the cam 1 6. Thus, rotation of the shaft 3 in either direction from the posi tion shown in Fig. 3 will cause, by the engagement of`a that the clip 55'comprises upturned end leg portions 60 and 62, and a central portion 56 of increased width to form ears which are turnedover against the base of the -strap member, the strap member being of generally U- shape and having legs which comprise movable contact members 15and 50. Clip 55 is preferably -formed of a resilient Asheet metal, such as spring., brass or bronze, although a resilient fiber or plastic material would also be suitable, whereby end leg portions 60 and 62 tend to spring into thepositions shown in Fig. 7. butmay be bent inwardly to permit insertion of the sub-assembly in the main chamber of the insulating body member.. In-

dentations or depressions 63 and 64 are in the form of crimps in the upstanding movable contact members 15 and 50, and serve as detents releasably to retain the opposite corners of the cam lblock 16, to impede rotation of Athe camvblock from its switch-closed position of Fig. 6. The upper protruding contacting ridges 51 and 52 of the contact members may take the form of similar crimps. The ridge shape of the contacting portions 5l, i

52 of the members 15 and 50 provides line contact across the width of members 15 and 50 with the respective fixed contact portions 53, 54, which are disposed within thel main switch chamber as heretofore described.

Several details of the construction, together with the4 method of assembly'of the device shown in Figs. Al-7, are .more clearly demonstrated by reference to Fig. 8.

The lower end of the lamp socket cup 30 is shown in Fig. 8 and three openings are formed in the bottom wall 47 of the cup. These openings comprise a bolt opening 65, which as seen in Fig. 3 is arranged to pass' the 'member 30 to pass bolt 45 and also has an opening 69 aligned with and larger than bolt opening 65. The enlarged opening 69 receivesaninsulating protruding collar portion 70 of insulating body 14. The collar 70 prevents reversed alignment of cover 28v as the cover is placed in position on the insulating body, assures accurate alignment of the cover on the body, and provides additional insulation between bolt 46 and the adjacent upper portion of terminal member 43.

Cover disc 28 carries the formed metal member which comprises the central lamp contact terminal 29 and the downwardly extending stationary switch contact portion 54. Terminal 29 extends above the upper surface of disc 28, and slots through disc 28 permitl the passage therethrough of a neck portion 71 of the formed metal contact member of which terminal 29 and contact 54 are parts, and of a smaller neck portion 72 which connects a tab 73 to the body of the member. Terminal vportion 29 and neck 71 and tab 73 and neck 72 maybe originally formed to extend vertically upwardly from the body of the terminal member, and terminal portion 29 and tab 73 may be inserted through their respective slots in cover 28 and thereafter bent, over in the positions shown to retain the terminal member, including,contact 54 and terminal 29, in position. It will be understood that tab 73, like terminal 29, is within the borders of opening 67 in bottom portion 47 Vof the socket cup, and that tab 73 and terminal 29 do not, therefore, come in contact bly is so disposed, it will be in the operative position inp dicated in the heretofore described figures and the upper surface of support 25 will lie substantially in the plane of the upper surface of body 14. It will be understood that a slot similar to slot 77 is provided 'in that portion of body 14 which is removed in Fig. 8 to receive ear 76 of the spring assembly. As the spring assembly is posi- I tioned in the insulating body, lower end portions 22 and 34 of the helical centering springs engage on opposite sides of stop member 21 of shaft 3. The other ends of the helical springs, identified as ends 79 and 80, bear against a portion of support 25 and may be arranged in small retaining notches as seen in the drawing.

Shaft 3 is retained in the bearings in body member 14 by bearing blocks 26 and 27. The bearings in block 14 comprise the curved bottom portions ofl slotted openings 81 and 82 formed vertically in the member 14. Blocks 26 and 27 comprise elongated rectangular members, having arcuate notches at the lower ends to fit against the upper portions of the shaft, and these blocks may fit within vertical slots as indicated in Fig. 8, to be held therein by the cover 28. The shaft 3 is, of course, free to turn within the bearings in body member 14. The clutch drum or ratchet wheel 17 surrounds a portion of shaft 3 and the internal shoulders, such as shoulder 37,- of the inner surface of drum 17 are engageable by the ends of the pawls, of which pawl 19 is seen in Fig. 8. As heretofore explained, member 19 is urged outwardly, toward the inner surface of drum 17, byspring 41, the spring being coiled about hinge pin 42. Hinge pin support post 20 is aixed to the shaft to offset the axis of pin 42 below the axis of shaft 3, and the post 20 may conveniently form a part of stop 21 which protrudes from the top of the shaft, the piece which forms these two members being inserted and locked in a slot cut vertically through the shaft. It will be apparent, however, that members 20 and 21 may, if desired, comprise separate pieces affixed to the shaft, or, if the shaft is of `molded construction, for example, the stop and hinge post or posts may be originally formed as integral parts of the shaft. It will be further under- 10 causes the establishment of a complete' circuit from termi nal 43 through contact portions 53 and 51, and thence through the lower portions of contact member 15 and the base portion of the movable contact members, held within the central ears 56 of the mounting clip, and thence upwardly through contact member 50, to its contact portion 52, and through contact portion 54 to the center terminal 29 yfor the lamp. Thecircuit is established from terminal portion 44 through a connecting bolt disposed to extend longitudinally through aperture 84 of the body 14, this bolt being identified by the numeral 45 in Fig. 3. lt will be seen that the bolt 45 may thread into a collar portion 85 of terminal member 44 and will extend through opening 68 in cover 28 and through opening 66 in the lamp socket cup member. The bolt head will be in direct electrical contact with the metallic cup member 30 and the body of the bolt comprises the electrical connection therefrom to the terminal member 44.

The end of shaft 3 shown in Fig. 8 engages in a recess 86 in ring 4 and is held therein by clip 9. The intermediate folded portion of the clip serves as a stop to retain the shaft end within recess 86, and the flattened sides 10 of the shaft engage the sides of the recess, whereby tilting of ring 4 causes equal rotation of the shaft. A bottom leg portion l1 of the clip is disposed against the extreme end of the shaft and between the shaft end and a back side of recess 86, whereby the clip 9 is retained against motion along the shaft and away from its end. The upper ear 12 is resiliently urged, by the natural resilienceof the clip 9, into the recess' 13 formed in the back surface of extended protrusion 8 formed on ring 4.

An alternative construction for the manually engageable operating member is suggested in Fig. 9. The arrangement therein shown comprises separate ring members 87 and 88 which, together, form a complete ring as heretofore described in connection, for example, with Fig. 1. The'portions 87, 88 of the split ring are attached together by a bolt 89, preferably located behind a protruding hand guide portion 90 of the ring assembly. Suitable stood that two posts 20 will usually be provided to support hinge pin 42, one post being arranged at each end of the pin. As heretofore described in connection with Fig. 2, cam block 16 is affixed to drum 17, and the block 16 may be formed as a unitary member with drum 17. The cam block 16 and its connected drum 17 are rotatably supported on the surface of shaft 3, with the block` 16 disposed between movable contact members 15 and 50 to control the separation of the upper portions thereof. Rotation of cam block 16 into a diagonal position, in which opposite corners of the block are presented toward contact members 15 and 50, as seen in Fig. 6, results in increased separation of members 15 and 50 and contact between portion 51 of contact member l5 and the surface of contact portion 53 of terminal member 43, as well as contact between contact portion 52 of member 50 and the contact portion 54 in circuit with center lamp terminal 29. It will be understood that the placement of cover 28 on body 14 introduced contact portion 54 into slot 83 of the body 14 and that portion 54 is thus disposed adjacent to the upper portion of movable contact member 50, in the same relative positio'n as that occupied by contact portion 53 behind the upper portion of movable contact member 15. Separation of the resilient, movable contact members 15 and 50 by rotation of the cam block 16, accordingly,

grooves are provided in the ring members 87 and 8.8 to enclose an end portion 91 of shaft 3. The end portionl 91 of shaft 3 may be formed in the shape heretofore suggested for' shaft 3 in connection with the preferred embodiment. Accordingly, the same shaft is applicable to either type of ring. The material of which -ring members 87 and 88 are formed is not material tot'his invention,

` but it is suggested that the ring according to the modification of Fig. 9 is conveniently formed of a synthetic plastic material. While the ring 4 of the preferred embodiment is particularly adapted to the use of metal as the material for the ring, it will be understood that either form of ring may be constructed of metal, plastic, wood, or any other desired material. It will be seen that the ring of Fig. 9 comprises two sections 87, 88 bolted together to form a unitary assembly with shaft 3. While this arrangement permits ready removal of the ring from the shaft, this unitary ring and shaft assembly could be formed in other ways. For example, the ring and shaft could be molded of a plastic material as a single complete unit, and, when so molded, stop 21 and posts 20 can be -molded as integral portions of the shaft. If the ring and shaft are molded together in the manner last suggested, bolt 89 may be omitted.

The mode of operation of the switch has been explained above as to certain details. In a complete cycle of operation, starting with the ring 4 in its centered orv rest position as shown in Fig. 1, corresponding to the neutral position of shaft 3, and with the switch open, as indicated in Fig. 5, the ring is tilted by some external force, as by a hand, or for example a foot, of a person. The tilt is about the axis of shaft 3, and as the shaft 3 is rotatively displaced from its rest position, in either direction of rotation, one of pawls 18, 19 drives the ratchet wheel or drum 17 in the same direction of rotation, by engaging behind a ratchet wheel shoulder, such as shoulder 37 for ll pawl 18, and as'the shaft is so displaced, after a rotation of a few degrees, the other pawl is depressed by cani surface 40 out of contact with any part of ratchet wheel 17. The disengagement of the idle pawl from. the ratchet wheel inner surface must be complete before shaft 3 has been displaced by somewhat less than 45 degrees from the rest position of the shaft for reasons which shall presently appear.

lt may be noted at this point that the first few degrees of shaft rotation from the rest position may serve to bottom the driving or active pawl in he' notch in which it is engaged, since the outer free end of each pawl should be free, in the rest position of the shaft, to enter an appropriate notch and to fall behind-the correspond ing shoulder 37, 39. Accordingly, some clearance is provided between the upper end of each pawl and the shoulder which the respective pawl may next drivingly engage. It has been assumed that about 5 degrees of lost motion may be involved in bottoming the driving pawl, and that a shaft rotation of about 50 degrees is therefore required.- In practice, the required shaft rotation may be found to be a little less than 50 degrees, but it will be a little more than 45 degrees with the square cam block 16 ofthe embodiment herein shown.

When the ring has been tilted through the proper angle, of approximately 50 degrees, the stop 21 will meet the shoulder 36, or 36', depending on the direction of rotation, and drum 17 and cam block 16 will have been rotated into the position of 6 as to the cam block, and into the position of Fig. 4 as to the drum 17 assuming counterclockwise rotation As the cam rotates from the position of Fig. 5, toward the position of Fig. 6, resilient contact members and 50 bend apart until ridges 51 and 52 meet their respective stationary contacts 5 3 and 54,

Afterthe ring has been tilted to establish the switch closed condition of Fig. 6, the ring is released for automatic centering under the influence of the one of centering springs 23 and 35 which has been deflected by stop 21 in .accord with the direction of ring tilt. During the return of shaft 3 from the position of Fig. 4 to that of Fig. 3,' the active pawl, which would be pawl 18 in Fig. 4, ratchets out of the ,notch in whichfit has been engaged and slides along over the shoulder next below that notch until it reaches the next lower notch, and the pawl end then drops into this 'lower notch to be prepared for the next operation. In the meantime, the idle pawl, pawl 19 'in Fig-4, returns upwardly, being held in a depressed position by cam surface 40 until the shaft has, preferably, nearly returned to rest position and at least until the shaft has returned suiciently for pawl 19 lto clearany notch that intervenes below the notch in which the pawl 19 should next engage. An earlier release of the pawl against the shoulder immediately below the notch to be-next engaged will not result in false operation of the device if the shoulder is smooth and if the pawl does not catch on the shoulder but can slide along its surface. It is preferred, however, to prevent any chance of malfunctioning," that-cam surface 40 extend suflicently upwardly to frictional force of the pawl or pawls in contact with the inner surface of the drum. The shaft returns to neutral without further effecting the cam block position. It will be recognized that the one of springs 23, 25 which is effective against stop'21 to return the shaft is not 0pposed by the other spring, in that portion 25' of support 25 prevents spring end 22 from following stop 21 when the shaft is displaced from neutral in the counterclockwise direction as seen in Fig. 4 and similarly prevents spring end 34 from following the stop'for displacements of the shaft in the other direction from its neutral position. As seen in Fig. 8, the portion 25' is effective to separate the spring ends 22 and 34 by substantially exactly the thickness of stop 21. In other words, spring ends 22 and 34, under the conditions .shown in Fig. 3, are at limit positions, and no appreciable leftward movement of end 22 or rightward movement of end 34, from the Fig. 3

' positions, would result from rotation of the shaft in either depress the idle pawl until it can safely springdirectly into -thc appropriate notch. As a corollary, the cam surface 40 terminates at chamfered shoulders 48 and 49 which are preferablypositioned to depress the idle pawl out of engagement with the -drum surface as the shaft is rotated only a few degrees from its restposition.

During the return of shaft 3 to its neutraler centered rest position, accordingly, the depressions 63 and 64 act as detents to furnish 'sufficient' impeding force against cam block 16 to prevent rotation of the cam by the dragging direction. The spring arrangement thus provides accurate centering of the shaft.

It will be apparent that the centering of shaft 3 returns ring -4 to its Fig. 1 position, and, since the `pawls anddrumnow assrime the Fig. 3 positions, the switch is prepared for its next operation. Tilting of ring 4 again causes rotative displacement of shaft 3, drum 17 and cam bloclc16. As the cam block rotates from its Fig. 6 position and is released from impeding indentations 63 and 64, the resilient movable contact members 15 and 50 cause rapid rotation of the cam into the Fig. 5 position. The members 15 and 50 can be thought of, accordingly, as taking over from the driving connection through the ratchet wheel shortly after the projecting portions of the cam become disengaged from the depressions 63 and 64. Since the accelerated rotation of cam 16 into the Fig. 5 position is a continuation, in the same direction, of the pawl 'driven rotation which was initiated by the tilting of the ring and shaft, the one pawl which is in engagement with the inner ratchet wheel surface does not oppose the l rapid rotation of the cam but merely ridesup on the next lower shoulder. As mentioned above, the height of cam surface shoulders 48 and 49, or the length of cam surface 40, is such asto disengage the idle pawl upon only 'slight displacement of the shaft from neutral position. Accordingly, if the idle pawl is depressed out of engagement with the ratchet wheel, the idle pawl will not be'in a position to interfere with the accelerated rotation of cam block 16.

The rapid return of cam 16 to the Fig. 5 position, which takes place after displacement of the cam by only a few degrees from its Fig. 6 position, permits a rapid breaking of the contact ridges 51 and 52 away from their stationary contact portions 53 and 54 to open the switch circuit.

Release of ring 4 permits a return of shaft 3 and the ring to rest position to complete the full switch cycle.

The words horizontal and vertical have been used herein for convenience in describing the positions of portions of the device. It will be understood, however, that the use of these words refers to relative positions of the parts with the device in the upright position as illustrated in the drawings, but it will be clear that the device will operate equally satisfactorily in any position.

While' the switch and socket assembly shown in the drawings has particular advantages, it will be apparent that the switch assembly is readily adaptable for use inother arrangements, and itis suggested, for example, that the casing 1 may comprise van elongated conduit or shell to house incoming conductors and outgoing conductors, both in the form of wires, and to house the switch, whereby connections between the conductors inside the conduit or shell may be controlled by a member, similar to ring 4, which spans externally of the conduit between the ends j of.a transversely disposed lprotruding shaft similar to shaft 3. This, and many other. modifications will occur .n to'those skilled in the art, and, whileI have shown and described only certain preferred embodiments /Of my nvention by way of illustration, I therefore wish to have it understood that l intend, in the appended claims, to cover all modifications that fall within thetrue spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A switch assembly comprising a generally cylindrical casing, a pair 'of aligned stationary bearings at respectively opposite sides of said casing, a rotatable rod extending transversely through said casing and mounted for rotation about its axis in said bearings, an operating member for said rod, said member having a portion axed to one end of said rod externally of said casing and normally extending in spaced relation to said casing from said portion in a plane generally perpendicular to said casing to the other end of said rod and' being axed to said rod at said other end externally of said casing, said member being tiltable out of said plane about the axis of said rod to rotate said rod in said bearings, and a switch mechanism in said casing, said mechanism4- comprising switch contact means and ratchet means, said ratchet means coupling said-rod and switch contact means to operate said contact means in response to said tilting of said member from its said normal position, and centering means effective in response to rotational displacement of said rod by tilting of said member from said normal position to urge said rod to rotate in the.direction necessary to return said member to said normal position in said plane.

2. An electric lamp socket and switch device comprising a generally cylindrical shell, a threaded lamp-basereceiving socket open at one end of said shell, mounting means for said shell at the other end of said shell, a mov-- able switch contact member in said shell between said socket and said mounting means, said contactv member being arranged to control an electrical connection to said socket, an elongated rotatable shaft extending transversely through said shell, stationary bearings in said shell mounting said shaft for rotation about the axis of said shaft, an internally recessed operating member for incrementally rotating said shaft encompassing and rigidly aflixed to the ends of said shaft externally of said shell and when in normal rest position extending generally perpendicularly to the axis of said shell outwardly from said shell and in spaced relation to the outer surface of said shell between said shaft ends, a centering spring in said shell coupled to said shaft and effective in response to rotational displacement of said operating member from said rest position to urge said shaft in a rotational. direction to return said operating' member into said rest position, ratchet means in said shell coupled to said shaft, and a cam in said shell coupled to said shaft through said ratchet means and operatively engageable with said contact member.

3. In combination, a lamp base receiving socket, a switch electrically connected to a terminal of said socket, a generally cylindrical shell enclosing said socket and switch, a shaft extending transversely through said shell, a handle member extending around said shell and spaced therefrom and attached at each end of said shaft, said shaft and handle member having a predetermined rest position from which said shaft and handle member may be rotated about the axis of said shaft through at least about 46 degrees selectably in either direction, said switch comprising a generally square cam member and a swingable Contact member for'engagement with said square cam and operable between open circuit and c losed circuit positions inaccord with the position of'said cam in respect to said contact members, said contact member having a generally fiat face portion andjincluding an indentation del-ined in said face portion, said positions of said cam member comprising a position in which a flat side of said cam member is disposed in confronting relation to said face and a position in which a corner of said cam member is disposed toward said face and engaged in said indentation therein, ratcheting means coupling said shaft and cam member, said ratcheting means comprising a pair of pawls and pawl disabling cam surface means and a pawl-engaged ratchet wheel, said cam surface means engaging and disabling first said pawl in response to shaft displacement in one direction from said rest position and engaging and disabling said other pawl in response to shaft displacement in the other direction from said rest position.

4. In combination, an elongated switch-operating shaft having spaced end portions and being arranged for, rotation about its axis, a manual operating member extending between said end portions and being spaced from said shaft between said end portions, at least one said end portion having a tlatted lateral surface and terminating in an extreme end generally perpendicular to said axis, means to connect said member to the other said end portion, said member comprising a shaft-end-engaging portion extending generally transversely to said axis at said one end portion, said member having a recess on its inner side at said shaft-end-engaging portion, said recess havingv a black side confronting and spaced a short distance from the extreme shaft end at said one end portion and having walls to lit about said one end portion, said walls having a 'gap to permit said one end portion to enter and leave said recess in a direction generally transversely of said shaft, a clip comprisng a leg trapped between said extreme end and said back side and a bent resilient portion anchored by said leg, said bent portion extending from said leg through said gap, said clip terminating in a catch portion at its end opposite said leg, said member delining a catch-engageable discontinuity on its inner surface near said recess into register with which said catch portion is resiliently urged by said spring portion to retain said leg in anchored position, the portion of said clip between said catch portion and leg comprising an end-portion-retaining closure for said gap.

5. An electric switch comprising an insulating base, a pair of elongated contact members attached to said base and extending im spaced generally parallel directions therefrom, said members having respective free ends remote from said base, a cam rotatably mounted between said contact members for controlling the distance between said free ends thereof, a shaft, means to rotate said shaft from a predetermined rest position, spring return means establishing said rest position for said shaft and operative upon rotative displacement of said shaft from said rest position to bias said shaft toward said rest position, a hollow cylindrical drum surrounding said shaft, shoulders on the internal surface of said drum, a pair of spring loaded pawl members carried by said shaft for engagement with said shoulders, fixed cam means' cooperating with said pawl members and comprising a surface to retain one said pawl member in a depressed position in response to rotative displacement of said shaft in one direction from said rest position and t'o retain the other said pawl member in a depressed position in response to rotative displacement of said shaft in the other direction, said pawl members being biased toward drum shoulder engagement.

6. In an electric switch comprising a base, a pair of generally parallel extending contact members end mounted to said base and having respective free ends remote from said mounted ends, a rotatable cam member having opposite sides and opposite corners angularly displaced from said sides, a shaft having a predetermined rest position, said cam member being rotatively mounted on said shaft displacements selectively in either direction from said rest` position, two oppositely acting one way driving connections selectively active to drive saidcam in response to said incremental rotations of said shaft correspondingly 15 in said respectively opposite directions, and means to disable the inactive said connection in response to rotative displacement of said shaft from said rest position.

7. In an electric switch comprising an insulating base, a pair of generally parallel extending resilient contact members end mounted to said base and having respective free ends remote from said mounted ends, a generally square carri member rotatably disposed between said contact members, a rotatable shaft having a predetermined rest position, means to rotate said shaft through a predetermined limited angle of rotation selectably in either v direction, double acting ratchet means coupling said cam member for rotation selectabl;I in either direction through 16 dividual said sides and corners as presented to said clement, a ratchet wheel attached to said cam and rotatable therewith, a pair of pawls, a plurality of ratchet teeth equal in number to the combined 4total of said sides and corners and equally spaced about said wheel, said teeth being individually and selectively engageable for driving by said pawls, rotatable pawl-supporting operating means having offset mounting means for said pawls, said operating means having a predetermined rest position, means to rotate said mounting means from said rest position selectively in either direction through an angle at least equal to the angular separation of 'adjacent ratchet teeth about the rotative axis of said Wheel, stop means to limit said angle of rotation to less than twice said angular separation, and means effective to engage one said pawl drivingly with a said ratchet tooth and to disable the other said pawl in a depressed position away from said'teelh in response to rotation of said rotating means in one said direction from said rest position and to engage said 'other 'pawl and disable said one pawl in response to such rotation in the other direction from said rest position.

ll. In a switch, a movable contact element, a rotatable cam engaging said element, saidcam being characterized said separation by presenting respective opposite at sides to said respective contact members.

A 8. In an electric switch, a rotatable cam member, a resilient contact member operatively engaged with said cam member and responsive to the rotative position thereof, said cam member having a bearing mounting said cam member for free rotation on said shaft, a rotatable shaft extending transversely through said switch, said shaft havinga predetermined rest position, operating means for rotating said shaft through limited displacements selectively in either direction from said rest position, centering spring means responsive to displacement of said shaft in either direction operative to return said shaft rotatively to said rest position following operation of said operating means, a ratchet wheel surrounding said shaft and having pawl-engageable shoulders, a pawl con-.

nected to said shaft and selectively engaging said shoulders of said ratchet wheel to drive said wheel in response to rotation of said shaft in a predetermined direction and freely to ratchet over said shoulders -of said wheel in response to rotation of said shaft in the direction opposite to said predetermined direction, and an operating connection between said wheel and cam member.

9. In an electric switch, a resilient contact member, a rotatable cam, said cam comprising a plurality of low sides separated by high corners, said contact member having a face, said face having a depression, said sides and comers being angularly equally spaced around said cam,

said cam being adapted in response to equal rotative increments to dispose a low side against said face and alternately a high corner in said depression, a ratchet wheel forming a unitary structure with said cam, said structure having a bearing on said shaft and being supported thereby for free rotation on said shaft, a one way driving pawl engaging said ratchet wheel, va manually rotatable pawl-supporting shaft member having a predetermined rest position, a hinge fixed to said shaft having a hinge axis laterally displaced from the axis of said shafthingedly fixing said pawl to said shaft, and a centering'spring operative to return said shaft member to said rest position following manual operation of said shaft member in either direction from said rest position.

l0. In a switch, a movable contact element, a rotatable cam engaging said element, said cam being-characterized by a plurality of high corners equally spaced apart about the rotative axis of said cam and a like plurality of low sides respectively intermediate between each said corner and the next said comer, whereby successive rotations of said cam through successive equal angular increments cause said sides and corners alternately one-by-'one to be presented to said contact element, said element being proportioned and arranged to titimpedingly against the inby a plurality of high corners equally spaced apart about the rotative axis of said cam and a like plurality of low sides respectively intermediate between each said corner and the next said corner, whereby successive rotations of said cam through successive equal angular increments cause said sides and corners alternately one-by-one to be presented to said contact element, said element being proportioned and arranged to fit impedingly against the individual said sides and corners as presented to said element, a ratchet wheel attached to said cam and rotatable therewith, a pair of pawls, a plurality of ratchet teeth equal in number to the combined total of said sides and corners and equally spaced about said wheel, said teeth being individually and selectively engageable for driving by said pawls, rotatable pawl-supporting operating means having offset mounting means for said pawls, said operating means having a predetermined rest position, means to rotate said mounting means from said rest position selectively in either direction through an angle at lea'st equal to the angular separation of adjacent ratchet teeth about the rotative axis of said wheel, stop means'to limit said angle of rotation to less than twice said angular separation, means ele'ctive to engage one saidpawl drivingly with a said ratchet tooth and to disable the other said pawl in a depressed position away from said teeth in response to rotation of said rotating means in one said direction from said rest position and to engage said other pawl'and disable said one pawl in response to such rotation in the other direction from said rest position, and centering spring means automatically to return said rotating means to said rest position following rotative operation thereof from said rest position.

1,2. A ratcheting clutch comprising a hollow drum, a plurality of shoulders on the inner surface of said drum, a shaft extending coaxially into said drum and having a predetermined neutral rotative position, said drum and said shaft being mounted for independent axial rotation, a pair'ofv pawl members hingedly mounted to said shaft in offset relation thereto, said pawl members having end portions engageable withl said shoulders, spring means urging said pawl members hingedly toward end engagement with said shoulders, said pawls extending -from said hinge mounting in'angularrelation and on respectively opposite sides of said shaft and hinge mounting, and a stationary cam engaged by one said pawl when said shaft is displaced in one direction from said neutral position and by said other pawl when'said shaft 1s displaced inthe other direction from said neutral position, said stationary cam being effective to force the one of said pawls so engaged with said stationary cam out of engagement with said inner surface shoulders.

13. A ratcheting clutch comprising a hollow driven member having an internal generally cylindrical surface, said member being rotatable about the axis defined by said cylindrical surface, a driving shaft disposed coaxially of said cylindrical surface and having a rest position, said shaft having a laterally oset hinge support, a pair of pawl arms individually hinged to said support, said arms extending angularly outwardly toward said surface, spring means urging said arms hingedly toward engagement with said surface, a plurality of shoulders extending inwardly from said surface, stationary arcuate cam means,-. saidarms being arranged alternately and selectively individually to contact said surface in driving position behind a shoulder of said plurality and to be depressed. and disengaged from said surface by said cam means in response to a predeterminedrotative displacement of said shaft from said rest position and respectively in accord with the direction of such displacement, in a v manner such that one said arm will be disengaged and disabled when the other said arm is drivingly engaged with a said shoulder and said other arm will be disengaged and disabled when said one arm is drivingly engaged with a said shoulder.

14. In a double acting rotative jacking mechanism comprising a member to be rotated in alternatively selected clockwise and counterclockwise steps, Iresilient rotation impeding means engaging said member, a hollow drum having a notched inner surface and being coupled to said member, a shaft disposed coaxially of said drum and'supporting said drum and member for rotation about said shaft, a pair of pawls hingedly attached to said shaft in offset relation thereto and extending at opposite sides of said shaft normally to engage said inner surface, said shaft having a predetermined neutral position and being rotatively displaceable in alternatively selectedA directions Y from said neutral position, spring means biasingly to urge said shaft toward said neutral position upon said displacement in either said direction, and a cam operative to disengage one said pawl from said inner surface in response 40 18 and counterclockwise directions, resilient rotation impeding means engaging said member, a hollow axialy rotatable drum connected to drive said member and having a notched inner surface, a shaft disposed coaxially of said drum, a pair of pawls hingedly attached to said shaft in offset relation thereto 'and extending outwardly therefrom in different directions selectively drivingly to engage said notched inner surface of said drum, spring means biasing said pawls toward said inner surface engagement, and a stationary cam surface engageable individuallyand selectively by said respective pawls in accord with the rotative position of said shaft with respect to said stationary cam surface and effective to disengage the individual selected pawl so engaging said cam surface from said notched inner surface.

16. In an electric switch, an insulating base member having a bottom wall and upstanding side walls defining an open top chamber, said base member having apertures extending upwardy through said bottom wall and into said side walls to provide recesses facing each other at .the lower end of said chamber adjacent said bottom wall,

a clip comprising an intermediate portion extending within said chamber across said bottom wall and resilient en( portions engaging respectively in said recesses, and contact means affixed to said intermediate portion of said clip and extending upwardly into said chamber.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

